CHICAGO - The American Amusement Machine Association has set aside $50,000 to establish the AAMA Coin-Op Rehabilitation Fund. This interest-free loan program is designed to give monetary assistance to members of the coin-op amusement industry whose businesses were hurt or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. AAMA officials said the program is intended to help hurricane survivors as they "begin to rebuild their companies, and in turn, their lives." AAMA will work closely with its membership in the near future to help raise additional monies for the Fund. For information on contributing to the AAMA Coin-Op Rehabilitation Fund, or to apply for assistance through the program, contact AAMA at tel. (847) 290-9088 or by e-mailing to tschwartz@coin-op.org.

Firestone Financial Corp., led by president David Cohen, has donated $10,000 to the fund. Firestone has volunteered to administer and help create the free loan program. Firestone has already donated to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, but executive vice-president Scott Cooper said the firm also wants to "direct funds specifically to those that have been affected in our industry."

In other hurricane relief news, currency handling device manufacturer JCM American Corp., in concert with several overseas JCM offices, has donated $30,000 to the Gaming Industry Katrina Relief Fund to provide disaster relief and assistance to affected gaming employees in Mississippi and Louisiana. JCM is also a member of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, which is donating $50,000 to relief efforts.

McAULIFFE HELPED ELEVATE THE FEC MARKET

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA , Tom McAuliffe, a widely respected industry veteran, passed away on Monday surrounded by family and friends after a long battle with colon cancer; he was 57. McAuliffe entered the amusement industry in 1973 as general manager of Time-Out Family Amusement Centers, one of the first game center concepts for regional malls. Soon, as a dynamic vice-president of operations, McAuliffe developed a talented team and played a key role in promoting the chain's , and the industry's , "family" element and image, which was crucial to facilitating greater acceptance of FECs by upscale malls. In 1987 he and partner Frank Ash formed Champion's Coin, which likewise helped upgrade game centers at truck stops in the 1990s. Champion's was sold in 2000, just prior to the onset of McAuliffe's illness.

A devoted family man, McAuliffe is survived by his wife of 34 years, Diane, and four children: Tom, Jr., Margaret (Parkinson), Maryedith and Maureen; as well as his brother George, whom he recruited into the industry in 1979; and his three sisters, Joan Nealon, Barbara Guida and Beth Fendl. He is also survived by a large extended family. Funeral arrangements are pending. VENDING TIMES extends its condolences to McAuliffe's family and the many friends who will miss him greatly.